Carriage-top



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT 'l. COOLEY, OF SYRACUSE, NE\V YOFK.

CARRIAGE-TOP.

EPBCIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,208, dated March29, 1887.

V Application filed December-1, 1886. Serial No. 220,359. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT T. COOLEY, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State ofNew York, have invented new and use fulImprovements in Carriage-Tops, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to the class of carriage-tops which are adaptedto be thrown from an erect position back and folded con1- pactly in arearwardly-inclined and open position; and the invention consists in anovel construction and combination of parts which effectually sustainthe top in its erect position, and hold the cover and lining thereofperl'ectly taut and smooth without the use of the usual moss orexcelsior padding which heretofore has been introduced between the coverand inner lining of the top.

The invention is fully illustrated in the annexed drawings, whereinFigure l is a side view of the frame of my improved carriage-top,showing it in its erect position by full lines and in its foldedposition by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section ofthe top proper, with the cover and inside lining attached thereto; andFig. 3 is a transverse section on lines a 00, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

A represents the central main supportingbow of the top, said bow beingpivoted at its feet to short posts a, rigidly secured to the frontportions of the sides of the carriage-seat B, which constitutes the baseof the top, the pivots of said bow allowing it to swing from a verticalposition rearward to recline on the usual prop-blocks, b,on the rearportions of the sides of the seat or base 13, as represented by dottedlines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. To the feet of the bow A are hinged orpivoted the feet of the front main bow, C, and back main bow, D, and theupper part of the latter is connected with the rear portion of the baseB by the usual flexible back stays, E.

F is ajointed brace pivoted at its lower end to the bolt of theprop-block b, or to some other suitable support on the rear portion ofthe side of the base 13. The upper end of said brace is pivoted to theupper end of the vertical portion of the bow A, and the central portionof the brace is provided with the usual knuckle-joint, c.

F is another knuckle-jointed brace pivoted at its rear end to the samestud or bolt on the bow, A, to which the braceF is pivoted. The forwardend of the brace F is hinged to the upper end of the vertical portion ofthe front bow, C.

d d d represent intermediate short bows extending across the topproper,and terminating at points in lines along the upper parts of thesides of the carriage-top. Theseintermediate bows are connected with themain bows O, A, and D by flexible stays 0e, usually designated sidequarters, consisting of strips of sailcloth extended along the sides ofthe top at the extremities of the intermediate bows, and tacked orotherwise firmly secured thereto and to the main bows. Anotherstay, .e,ofthe same material may be secured to the central portions of theaforesaid bows, or said stays may be extended diagonally across the top.

The attachment of the aforesaid flexible stays completes the frame ofthe carriage-top.

The usual cover, t, and inside lining, Z, are to be tacked or otherwisesuitably secured to the main bows and intermediate bows in such a mannerthat when the carriage-top is erect, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, the aforesaid cover and lining shall be taut and smooth.It will be observed that in this manner I dispense with the usualpadding of moss or eXcelsior between the lining and cover, and the topis thus made to present a much neater appearance, and can be folded morecompactly.

The inclination of the main bows O D in opposite directions from thefeet of the bow A, together with the braces F F, and backstays, E, serveto effectually sustain the top proper in a distended position.

Having described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

The combination, with the main supportingbows, of the short intermediatebows extending across the topsproper and terminating. of two attestingwitnesses, at Syracuse, in the at the upper parts of the sides, and theflexible county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, :0 side quarters,e e, secured to the main bows this 27th day of November, 1886.

and to the ends of the intermediate bows and 5 supporting the latter,substantially as de- GILBERT GOOLEY' scribed and shown. WVitnesses:

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed H. P. DENISON, my name andaffixed my seal, in the presence 0. BENDIXON.

